British families face a summer of travel chaos as volatile oil prices cause airfares to soar and flights to be cancelled, alongside long delays at airports due to new EU border rules. Jet fuel supplies from the Middle East have been disrupted since the US-Israeli war with Iran began, due to Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz shipping route.
Some airlines have already begun hiking fares and reducing services because of their reliance on imported fuel, amid warnings a 'systemic' shortage could be on the way. Analysts say higher jet fuel prices can be quicker to pass through to fares than road fuel and household energy costs, meaning the impact on price is already being seen – seat prices have risen by around a fifth and are likely to go up further this summer.
Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at Wealth Club, predicted the aviation industry faced an 'extraordinary period' and warned of a 'growing chance that leisure flights could start being cancelled from May' if insufficient fuel can be sourced. The latest average global jet fuel cost was $198 per barrel last week – double the $99 in late February when the war began, the International Air Transport Association said.
Today, European airlines urged the EU to step in with emergency measures due to the conflict causing widespread airspace closures and concerns over jet fuel shortages. Global schedules for April have been cut by about 5 per cent compared with earlier plans, according to estimates by investment bank BNP Paribas. Most reductions are in the Middle East, but smaller cuts have also emerged in Europe, Asia and the US.
Meanwhile, families with young children have been stranded abroad due to the new Entry/Exit System (EES) which requires travellers from third-party countries, including the UK, to have their fingerprints and photos taken as they enter the Schengen area. Further checks take place when they leave, and because these can take hours, some travellers have been stuck at passport control after their flights have already left.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said delays caused by the EES could be 'significantly worse over the summer', and urged travellers concerned about jet fuel shortages to book a package holiday, which should be refunded if a flight is axed. He advised passengers to arrive at the airport earlier and ensure their phone is charged in case they need to inform their hotel or car hire firm of delays.
